Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine may include a cabinet, an outer tub, an inner tub configured to receive laundry and provided in the outer tub so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a circulation nozzle to spray water into the inner tub, a circulation hose to guide water from the outer tub to the circulation nozzle, and a pump including a pump motor having variable speeds and an impeller configured to move water from the circulation hose to the circulation nozzle as the impeller is rotated by the pump motor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to KoreanApplication Nos. 10-2015-0139279 filed on Oct. 2, 2015, 10-2015-0139272filed on Oct. 2, 2015, and 10-2015-0141714 filed on Oct. 8, 2015, whoseentire disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to a washing machine.

2. Background

A washing machine is an apparatus for processing laundry through severalactions, such as, e.g., washing, dehydrating and/or drying. The washingmachine includes an outer tub configured to store water and an inner tubrotatably provided in the outer tub. A plurality of through holesthrough which water passes is formed in the inner tub. When a userselects a required course using a control panel after laundry, whichhereinafter may be referred to as “clothes”, has been thrown into theinner tub, the washing machine may execute a predetermined algorithm inresponse to the selected course such that fast water discharge, washing,rinsing, and dehydrating are performed.

A rinsing cycle, which may be performed in a top loading type washingmachine, is a method of supplying water to a sufficient water level atwhich clothes thrown into the inner tub can be soaked and rotating theinner tub or a pulsator within the inner tub. Such a method may have adisadvantage in that a large amount of water is consumed.

A washing machine may include a nozzle for spraying water into the innertub, a circulation hose for guiding water discharged from the outer tubinto the nozzle, and a circulation pump for forcibly sending water toand within the circulation hose. In such a washing machine, thecirculation pump uses a synchronization motor, and a flow rate of thepump is constant. Accordingly, since water of always constant waterpressure is supplied to the nozzle, the type of water current sprayedthrough the nozzle and the spray angle of the nozzle, cannot becontrolled.

A height of clothes stacked within the inner tub may be differentdepending on the amount of laundry, which may be referred to as a“clothes amount”, thrown into the inner tub. However, the nozzle forspraying water at a specific angle as in related art has limits inuniform dampening of clothes regardless of a clothes amount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the washing machine shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows part of the washing machine of FIG. 1 and is across-sectional view showing a structure of a hanger;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a relationship between major elementsof the washing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A shows a state in which water is sprayed through a circulationnozzle if an inner tub has no load;

FIG. 5B shows a state in which water is sprayed through the circulationnozzle if the inner tub has a maximum load;

FIG. 6 shows that a top cover as viewed from above;

FIG. 7 shows that the top cover as viewed at a front;

FIG. 8A shows that a back of the top cover in which the circulationnozzle has been installed;

FIG. 8B shows that the back of the top cover in which the circulationnozzle has been separated;

FIG. 9A shows a back part of the circulation nozzle;

FIG. 9B shows a coupling of the top cover and the circulation nozzle;

FIG. 10A shows the circulation nozzle and a nozzle cap assemblyinstalled on the top cover as viewed from the side;

FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a state in which the circulationnozzle has been installed on the top cover;

FIG. 10C is a side cross-sectional view of the circulation nozzle;

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing heights at which water sprayed through thecirculation nozzle reaches the inner tub depending on a rotation speedof a washing motor;

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing angles at which water sprayed through thecirculation nozzle is spread in a width direction depending on arotation speed of the washing motor;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing spray ranges of the circulation nozzle anda direct water nozzle;

FIG. 13 shows a circulation nozzle according to another;

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a pump;

FIG. 14B is a side view of the pump;

FIG. 14C shows the state in which a pump housing has been removed fromthe pump;

FIG. 14D is a front view of the pump;

FIG. 15 shows a cut out view of an inside of the pump housing;

FIG. 16 shows an inside surface of the pump housing;

FIG. 17A shows a back part of the pump;

FIG. 17B is a side cross-sectional view of the pump;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a pump bracket;

FIG. 19 shows the pump installed on a base in various angles;

FIG. 20 shows a pump according to another embodiment;

FIG. 21A shows a pump in which a first pump housing and a second pumphousing have been removed;

FIG. 21B shows the pump viewed in a direction I indicated in FIG. 21A ina state in which the first pump housing and the second pump housing havebeen assembled;

FIG. 21C shows the pump viewed in a direction II indicated in FIG. 21Ain a state in which the first pump housing and the second pump housinghave been assembled;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are partial perspective views showing a relationbetween a lower part of the circulation hose and surrounding elementsthereof in FIG. 2;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a relation between an upper partof the circulation hose and surrounding elements thereof in FIG. 2;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the circulation hose of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a circulation hose according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a washing machine according to an embodimentmay include a base 9, a cabinet 1, a top cover 2, a lid 4, and a controlpanel 3. The base 9 may have a flat form corresponding to the bottom onwhich the washing machine is installed. The base 9 may be supported byfour support legs 16 installed near the four corners of the cabinet 1. Apump 100 may be installed on the base 9.

The base 9 forms an external appearance of an approximately rectangularform. The support legs 16 are provided at respective points inwardspaced apart from the four vertexes of a rectangular form. The supportlegs 16 are protruded downward from the base 9 and come into contactwith the bottom, such as, e.g., an indoor floor on which the washingmachine stands. The four support legs 16 support the base 9, and thebase 9 supports the entire washing machine.

The cabinet 1 is supported by the base 9, and is configured to include afront part 1 a, both side units 1 b and 1 c (although only the rightside unit 1 b has been illustrated in FIG. 1, the left side unit 1 c isprovided on the side opposite the side of the right side unit 1 b), anda backside unit 1 d installed on the outside corners of the base 9 sothat the space in which the outer tub 6 is accommodated is formed withinthe cabinet 1. The top and bottom of the cabinet 1 may be opened. Thetop cover 2 may be coupled to the top of the cabinet 1. A feedingentrance for the throwing and drawing of laundry or clothes may beformed in the top cover 2. The lid 4 for opening and shutting thefeeding entrance may be rotatably coupled to the top cover 2.

The outer tub 6 for receiving water may be provided in the cabinet 1.The outer tub 6 may be provided in a form hung within the cabinet 1 by ahanger 80. The hanger 80 may include a support rod 81 configured to havea top pivotally coupled to the top cover 2 and a suspension installed onthe support rod 81 and configured to absorb the vibration of the outertub 6. The suspension may have various forms. For example, thesuspension may include an outer tub support member configured to supportthe outer tub 5 and to move along the support rod 81 when the outer tub6 is vibrated and a spring fixed to the lower part of the support rod 81and configured to elastically support the outer tub support member.

Referring to FIG. 3, a hanger bracket 88 may be provided above the outertub 6 within the cabinet 1. The hanger bracket 88 may be provided in thetop cover 2. The support rod 81 may have a top pivotally coupled to thehanger bracket 88. The hanger 800 includes the support rod 81, a cap 85,and an elastic member 86. The cap 85 can move along the support rod 81in the state in which it has been inserted into the support rod 81. Theouter tub 6 is supported by the cap 85, and moves along with the cap 85in a vibration process.

The support rod 81 may include a support rod base 87 formed at the lowerpart of the support rod. The base 87 has a form outward extended fromthe bottom of the support rod 81 in a radial direction. The elasticmember 86 provided in the cap 85 is placed on the top surface of thesupport rod base 87. The elastic member 86 may be a spring. The top ofthe spring supports the cap 85. Accordingly, the spring 86 is compressedwhen the cap 85 moves downward while the cap 85 is displaced along withthe outer tub 6. The spring 86 restores to its original state in aprocess of the cap 85 upward moving. The hanger bracket 88 may beprovided near each of the four corners of the cabinet 1 and/or the topcover 2. The four hangers 80 may be coupled to the respective hangerbrackets 88. When viewed from top to bottom, the hangers 80 areinstalled near the four corners of the cabinet 1.

The outer tub 6 may have a top open, and an outer tub cover 7 may beprovided at the open top. The outer tub cover 7 may have a ring formhaving a central part open for the entrance and exit of laundry. Theinner tub 5 configured to accommodate laundry and rotated around avertical axis may be provided in the outer tub 6. A plurality of holes 5a through which water pass may be formed in the inner tub 5. Water maymove between the inner tub 5 and the outer tub 6 through the holes 5 a.

A water discharge bellows 18 for discharging water from the outer tub 6and a water discharge valve 44 for controlling the water dischargebellows 18 may be provided. The water discharge bellows 18 is connectedto the pump 100. Water may be supplied to the pump 100 through the waterdischarge bellows 18 when the water discharge valve 44 is open under thecontrol of a controller 30. The pump 100 may be construed as operatingin the state in which the water discharge bellows 18 is open althoughnot separately described. A pulsator 15 is rotatably provided at thebottom within the inner tub 5. The pulsator 15 may include a pluralityof radial ribs that is upward protruded. When the pulsator 15 isrotated, a water current may be formed by the ribs.

A washing motor 41 that provides electric power for rotating the innertub 5 and the pulsator 15 may be provided in the cabinet 1. The washingmotor 41 is provided under the outer tub 6 and may be provided in a formhung in the cabinet 1 along with the outer tub 6. The shaft of thewashing motor 41 is always coupled to the pulsator 15, and may becoupled to or released from the inner tub 5 in response to the switchoperation of a clutch. Accordingly, when the shaft of the washing motor41 operates in the state in which it has been coupled to the inner tub5, the pulsator 15 and the inner tub 5 are rotated together. In thestate in which the shaft has been separated from the inner tub 5, theinner tub 5 is in a stop state and only the pulsator 15 is rotated.

Speed of the washing motor 41 can be controlled. The washing motor 41may be controlled under the control of the controller 30. The washingmotor 41 may be a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor. Speed of theBLDC motor may be controlled using a proportional-integral (PI)controller, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, etc.Such controllers may receive output of the motor through feedback andcontrol the input current of the motor.

A dispenser 17 for supplying additives that act on laundry to the innertub 5 along with water may be provided in the top cover 2. The additivessupplied from the dispenser 17 include a detergent and a fabricsoftener.

At least one pump is required to drain water from the outer tub 6 or tocirculate water through a circulation hose 10. A pump for waterdischarge and a pump for circulation may be separately provided. As inthe present embodiment, water discharge and circulation may beselectively performed using the single pump 100.

The circulation hose 10 functions to guide water, forcibly sent by thepump 100, into a circulation nozzle 12. The circulation hose 10 may haveone end connected to a circulation water discharge port 144 and have theother end connected to the circulation nozzle 12.

The circulation water discharge port 144 is protruded in the lateraldirection of the pump 100 and coupled to one end of the circulation hose10. The circulation water discharge port 144 may horizontally extrudeand also extend in an upward inclined direction. In the presentembodiment, the circulation water discharge port 144 has beenillustrated as being backward upward extended.

The pump 100 may include a pump motor 170 (refer to FIGS. 6 and 17) andan impeller 150 rotated by the pump motor 170 and configured to forciblysend water. The pump motor 170 may be rotated forward/backward. Therotation direction of the impeller 150 is also changed in response tothe rotation direction of the pump motor 170.

The pump motor 170 is capable of speed control, and may be controlledunder the control of the controller 30. The pump motor 170 may be abrushless direct current (BLDC) motor. Speed of the BLDC motor may becontrolled using a proportional-integral (PI) controller, aproportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, etc. Such controllersmay receive output of the motor through feedback and control the inputcurrent of the motor.

The pump 100 may include two ports for discharging water forcibly sentby the impeller, that is, a circulation water discharge port 144 and adrain port 143. When the pump motor 170 is rotated forward, water isdischarged through the circulation water discharge port 144. When thepump motor 170 is rotated backward, water may be discharged through thedrain port 143.

The dispenser 17 may include a dispenser housing 171 provided in the topcover 2 and a drawer 172 configured to have additives contained thereinand received in the dispenser housing 171 in such a way as to be drawntherefrom. A drawer inlet/outlet port through which the drawer 172passes may be formed in the top cover 2. An opening part correspondingto the drawer inlet/outlet port may be formed on one surface thatbelongs to the dispenser housing 171 and that faces the drawerinlet/outlet port. The inside of the drawer 172 may be partitioned by adetergent reception unit 172 a in which a detergent is contained and afabric softener reception unit 172 b in which a fabric softener iscontained.

A plurality of water supply ports may be formed at the top of thedispenser housing 171. The water supply ports may include a first watersupply port 171 a and a second water supply port 171 b into which hotwater and cold water to be supplied to the detergent reception unit 172a are respectively introduced and a third water supply port 171 c intowhich cold water (or hot water) to be supplied to the fabric softenerreception unit 172 b is introduced. Hereinafter, cold water isillustrated as being introduced into the third water supply port 171 c.In some embodiments, however, hot water may be introduced into the thirdwater supply port 171 c.

The washing machine may include one or more water supply hoses forguiding water supplied from an external water source, such as a tap. Thewater supply hoses may include a first water supply hose for guidingwater supplied from a cold water source into the first water supply port171 a, a second water supply hose for guiding water supplied from a hotwater source into the second water supply port 171 b, a third watersupply hose for guiding water supplied from the cold water source intothe third water supply port 171 c, and a fourth water supply hose or adirect water supply hose for supplying water to a direct water nozzle13.

Cold water may be supplied through the direct water supply hose. Thefourth water supply hose may be coupled to a water source, for example,a tap. The fourth water supply hose may be coupled to the first watersupply hose or the third water supply through a fluid connection, but isnot limited thereto. Cold water, hot water or a mixture of cold waterand hot water may be supplied through the water supply hose.

One or more water supply valves 43 for controlling the water supplyhoses may be provided. For example, the one or more water supply valves43 may include a first water supply valve for controlling the firstwater supply hose, a second water supply valve for controlling thesecond water supply hose, a third water supply valve for controlling thethird water supply hose, and a fourth water supply valve for controllingthe direct water supply hose. The water supply valves may be drivenunder the control of the controller 30.

The washing machine may include a water level sensor 42 for sensing awater level in the outer tub 6. The controller 30 may control the watersupply valves 43 and/or the water discharge valve 44 in response to awater level sensed by the water level sensor 42. The control panel 3 mayinclude an input unit 46, such as, e.g., keys, buttons and/or a touchpanel capable of setting, selecting, and adjusting various types ofoperation mode provided by the washing machine, and a display, such as alamp, an LCD panel and/or an LED panel for displaying various types ofinformation such as a response, warning, and notification depending onthe operation state of the washing machine and the selection ofoperation mode. A memory 47 functions to store various data for theoperation of the washing machine and may include various recordingmedia, such as volatile/nonvolatile RAM, ROM and/or flash memory.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10C, the washing machine may include acirculation nozzle 12 and a direct water nozzle 13, that is, nozzles forspraying water to the inner tub 5. The circulation nozzle 12 and thedirect water nozzle 13 may be installed on the top cover 2 and may beprovided on both sides with the drawer 172 interposed therebetween. Thecirculation nozzle 12 and the direct water nozzle 13 may be installedabove the outer tub 6. The circulation nozzle 12 may be provided at theback above the outer tub 6.

When viewed from the front, in the case of left and right sides dividedbased on the dispenser 17, the circulation nozzle 12 may be provided onone side and the direct water nozzle 13 may be provided on the otherside. The pump 100 may be provided on the same side as the circulationnozzle 12 based on the dispenser 17 over the base 9. When viewed fromthe front, the circulation nozzle 12 may be provided on the left of thedispenser 17 and the pump 100 is also provided on the same side as thecirculation nozzle 12. If the circulation nozzle 12 is provided on theopposite side (i.e., the right of the dispenser 17), the pump 100 mayalso be provided on the right of the dispenser 17.

The circulation nozzle 12 may include a water supply pipe 121 forguiding water supplied through a circulation hose 90 and a diffuser 122for spraying water, discharged by the water supply pipe 121, to theinner tub 5 by refracting the water downward. The circulation nozzle 12may be formed of one part made of synthetic resin.

The water supply pipe 121 may be straightly extended from an inlet 121 ainto which water from the direct water supply hose is introduced to anoutlet 121 b for discharging water to the diffuser 122. The outlet 121 bmay have a smaller diameter than the inlet 121 a so that pressure ofwater discharged through the outlet 121 b is increased. A radialprotrusion 125 protruded from the outer circumferential surface of thewater supply pipe 121. A pair of the radial protrusions 125 may beformed at locations that are symmetrical around the center of the watersupply pipe 121.

A hose coupling protrusion 126 may extrude from the outercircumferential surface of the water supply pipe 121. A protrusioncoupling groove into which the hose coupling protrusion 126 is insertedmay be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the circulationhose 10. The circulation nozzle 12 may include a plate 123 outwardextended from the outer circumferential surface of the water supply pipe121 in the radial direction. The back of the plate 123 faces the frontof the top cover 2, and the diffuser 122 may be formed on the frontsurface of the plate 123.

The diffuser 122 may include a impingement surface 124 in which waterdischarged through the outlet 121 b of the water supply pipe 121impinges or collides and is downward refracted. The diffuser 122includes a spray hole 122 h protruded to the front of the plate 123 andconfigured to spray water into the inner tub 5. That is, the diffuser122 has a chamber or funnel form depressed from the spray hole 122 h,and may have an increasing channel section area from the outlet 121 b ofthe water supply pipe 121 to the spray hole 122 h. A portion thatbelongs to the inside surface of the diffuser 122 forming the chamberand that is placed at the front end of the outlet 121 b of the watersupply pipe 121 is inclined so that water discharged by the outlet 121 bis downward refracted while colliding against each other. The inclinedportion corresponds to the impingement surface 124.

The circulation nozzle 12 may further include an inclined part 123 aprotruded from the plate 123 and configured to extend from the side overthe spray hole 122 h to the spray hole 122 h and to have a slope furtherprotruded from the plate 123 to the spray hole 122 h. A gap is formedbetween the end of the inclined part 123 a and the front surface of thetop cover 2. Accordingly, although water flows along the inclined part123 a and drops through the spray hole 122 h, the dropped water can beprevented from coming into contact with the top cover 2.

A fixed protrusion 128 may be protruded from the back surface of theplate 123. The fixed protrusion 128 may include a pin 128 a verticallyextended from the back surface of the plate 123 and a head 128 bconfigured to have a greater outside diameter than the pin 128 a andformed at the end of the pin 128 a.

An opening part 123 h may be formed in the plate 123. A locking tab 127may be lengthily protruded from the corner of the opening part 123 h tothe opening part 123 h. The locking tab 127 has an end of a cantileverform located within the opening part 123 h, and may be curved from aconnection part with the plate 123. A pressurization protrusion 127 aprotruded in a direction to which the back of the plate 123 is directedmay be formed at the end of the locking tab 127.

A nozzle mount 2 a of a backward depressed form may be formed in thefront surface of the top cover 2. A first installation hole h1 and asecond installation hole h2 of an arc shape spaced apart from the firstinstallation hole h1 and extended in a circumferential direction withrespect to the center of the first installation hole h1 or the center ofthe water supply pipe 121 may be formed in the nozzle mount 2 a.

The first installation hole h1 may include a circular water supply pipeinsertion section h11 configured to have the water supply pipe 121inserted thereto, first and second radial protrusion insertion sectionsh12 and h13 extended from the water supply pipe insertion section h11 toboth sides in a radial direction thereof, and a pressurizationprotrusion insertion section h14 further extended from the second radialprotrusion insertion section h13 in the radial direction.

The second installation hole h2 may include a head insertion section h21configured to have the head 128 b inserted thereto when the radialprotrusions 125 is inserted into the first and the second radialprotrusion insertion sections h12 and h13, respectively, and aprotrusion guide section h22 extended from the head insertion sectionh21 in a circumferential direction thereof in a width smaller than thewidth of the head insertion section h21.

A process of installing the circulation nozzle 12 is described below.The locations of radial protrusions 125 are aligned with the radialprotrusion insertion sections h12 and h13. The water supply pipe 121 isinserted into the water supply pipe insertion section h11 from the frontof the top cover 2. At this time, the head 128 b of the fixed protrusion128 is also inserted into the head insertion section h21. The backsurface of the plate 123 is placed on the front surface of the top cover2. Furthermore, the pressurization protrusion 127 a of the locking tab127 has closely adhered to the front surface of the top cover 2, andthus the locking tab 127 is elastically curved from a connection partwith the plate 123.

When the circulation nozzle 22 is rotated, the head 128 b moves alongthe protrusion guide section h22. The pressurization protrusion 127 a ofthe locking tab 127 revolves around the front surface of the top cover 2in the state in which the pressurization protrusion 127 a of the lockingtab 127 has been deformed. When the pressurization protrusion 127 areaches a specific location, it is inserted into the locking tabinsertion section h14 and restores to its original form, therebycompleting the installation of the circulation nozzle 12.

In the state in which the installation of the circulation nozzle 12 hasbeen installed, the radial protrusion 125 is located on the back surfaceof the top cover 2. Accordingly, the circulation nozzle 12 does notdeviate toward the front side of the first installation hole h1.Furthermore, since the fixed protrusion 128 is also located in theprotrusion guide section h22 having a width smaller than the diameter ofthe head 128 b, the head 128 b does not pass through the guide sectionh22 and the circulation nozzle 12 does not deviate toward the front sideof the first installation hole h1. Furthermore, the spray direction ofthe circulation nozzle 12 may be set as required by properly designingthe length of the protrusion guide section h22 and the locations of thelocking tab 127 and the insertion section h14 corresponding to thelocking tab 127.

Referring to FIGS. 11A through 12, when water of sufficient waterpressure is supplied through the water supply pipe 121, the watersprayed through the spray hole 122 h may be spread at a maximum spraywidth angle θw left and right when viewed from the front (refer to FIG.7) and may be upward sprayed at a maximum vertical spray angle θv withrespect to a vertical line when viewed from the side (refer to FIG. 10),but the width of a water current sprayed through the circulation nozzle12 and a maximum height reached by the water current are reduced as thewater pressure supplied through the water supply pipe 121 is reduced.

Water pressure of water supplied through the water supply pipe 121 ischanged depending on a rotation speed of the pump motor 170. Thecontroller 30 may control a form of a water current sprayed through thecirculation nozzle 12 by changing a rotation speed of the pump motor170. In order that the pump motor 170 is rotated at a low speed (I),rotated at a middle speed (II), and rotated at a high speed (III), amaximum height at which a water current sprayed through the circulationnozzle 12 reaches the inner tub 5 is sequentially increased (refer toFIG. 11A) and the horizontal spray angle of the circulation nozzle 12 issequentially increased (refer to FIG. 11B).

The controller 30 may include a clothes amount determination module 31and an operation control module 32 (refer to FIG. 4). The clothes amountdetermination module 32 may determine the amount of laundry contained inthe inner tub 5 or a laundry amount. Inertia of the inner tub 5 or thepulsator 15 may be an index for determining a laundry amount. Forexample, when the inner tub 5 in a stop state is rotated, stop inertiaof the inner tub 5 is increased as a laundry amount is increased.Accordingly, more time is taken for the inner tub 5 to reach a settarget speed. Accordingly, the laundry amount determination module 32may determine a laundry amount based on the time taken for the inner tub5 to the target speed.

When the rotating inner tub 5 is braked, the laundry amountdetermination module 32 may determine a laundry amount based on the timetaken for the inner tub 5 to stop. In this case, rotation inertia of theinner tub 5 that is changed depending on a laundry amount is used. Inaddition, a laundry amount may be determined by taking intoconsideration a change of an input or output current of the washingmotor 41 and/or an electromotive force. A method of calculating alaundry amount is widely known to those skilled in the art and adescription thereof is omitted, but the laundry amount determinationmodule 32 may determine a laundry amount using various known methods.

The operation control module 32 may control various electronic devices,such as the washing motor 41, the water supply valve 43, the waterdischarge valve 44, and the pump motor 170. The operation control module32 may control the electronic devices based on a water level sensed bythe water level sensor 42 or a laundry amount determined by the laundryamount determination module 31.

The operation control module 32 may control the water supply valve 43 sothat water is supplied to the inner tub 5, and then may control arotation speed of the pump motor 170 based on a laundry amountdetermined by the laundry amount determination module 31. In particular,the operation control module 32 may increase the rotation speed of thepump motor 170 as the laundry amount determined by the laundry amountdetermination module 31 increases. If the amount of laundry thrown intothe inner tub 5 is much, the operation control module 32 increases themaximum spray width angle θw and the maximum vertical spray angle θv byincreasing spray water pressure of the circulation nozzle 12.

The operation control module 32 may continue to rotate the washing motor41 in one direction while the pump motor 170 is rotated. At this time,the washing motor 41 may be rotated at a sufficient speed to the extentthat it is rotated along with the inner tub 5 in the state in whichlaundry within the inner tub 5 have adhered to the inside surface of theinner tub, that is, a drum D (refer to FIG. 12), by a centrifugal force.In this case, there is an advantage in that water sprayed through thecirculation nozzle 12 can dampen laundry uniformly.

The direct water nozzle 13 may have substantially the same structure asthe circulation nozzle 12. A nozzle mount 2 a′ on which the direct waternozzle 13 is to be installed may be formed in the top cover 2. Thenozzle mount 2 a′ has substantially the same structure as the nozzlemount 2 a, but as shown in FIG. 8, the first installation hole h1 andthe second installation hole h2 may have a mirror symmetry form comparedto the nozzle mount 2 a.

A nozzle cap 14 may be coupled to each of the circulation nozzle 12 andthe direct water nozzle 13. The nozzle cap 14 is configured to surroundthe diffuser 122 of each of the nozzles 12 and 13, and includes anopening part communicating with each of the spray holes of the nozzles12 and 13. The nozzle cap 14 may be coupled to the plate 123.

Referring to FIG. 12, assuming that one side of a vertical plane towhich the rotational axis c of the inner tub 5 belongs is a first regionS1 and the other side thereof is a second region S2 based on a referencesurface F extended in the front and rear direction, the circulationnozzle 12 may be provided in the first region S1 and may spray water sothat it reaches the second region S2, and the direct water nozzle 13 maybe provided in the second region S2 and may spray water so that itreaches the first region S1. That is, at least part of the spray hole ofthe circulation nozzle 12 may be open toward the second region S2, andat least part of the spray hole of the direct water nozzle 13 may beopen toward the first region S1.

The inner tub 5 may include a bottom on which the pulsator 15 isprovided and a cylindrical drum upward extended from the bottom. Thespray hole of the circulation nozzle 12 may be open toward a region thatreaches from a first part P(S1) on the top of the pulsator 15 belongingto the first region S1 to a second part D(S2) on the innercircumferential surface of the drum belonging to the second region S2 inthe state in which the inner tub 5 is in an unloaded state.

The spray hole of the direct water nozzle 13 may be open toward a regionthat reaches from a third part P(S2) on the top of the pulsator 15belonging to the second region S2 to a fourth part D(S1) on the innercircumferential surface of the drum belonging to the first region S1 inthe state in which the inner tub 5 is an unloaded state.

FIG. 13 shows a circulation nozzle according to another embodiment.Referring to FIG. 13, the circulation nozzle 12′ according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure has the same configuration as thecirculation nozzle 12 according to the previous embodiment except thatpart of the spray hole 122 h forms a wave form W. In particular, thewave form W may be formed at the bottom of the impingement surface 124that forms the spray hole 122 h.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17, the pump 100 may include a motor casing 130configured to have the pump motor 170 received therein and a pumphousing 140 configured to form the space in which the impeller 150 isreceived therein, or an impeller reception space, and coupled to themotor casing 130. The impeller 150 may include a plurality of vanes 151that are radially provided. In an embodiment, four vanes 151 have beenillustrated being provided, but the number of vanes is not necessarilylimited thereto.

The pump housing 140 may include a housing main body 141 configured toform the impeller reception space, a supply port 142 forward extendedfrom the housing main body 141 and configured to communicate with theimpeller reception space, and two ports, that is, the circulation waterdischarge port 144 and the drain port 143 configured to discharge water,forcibly sent by the impeller 150, to the outside of the impellerreception space. The circulation water discharge port 144 and the drainport 143 may be outward extended from the housing main body 141.

The circulation water discharge port 144 may be formed to havesubstantially the same inside diameter as the drain port 143, but is notnecessarily limited thereto. In some embodiments, the circulation waterdischarge port 144 may be formed to have a smaller inside diameter thanthe drain port 143.

The supply port 142 may be coupled to the water discharge bellows 18.The supply port 142 may be formed of a pipe extended in an axialdirection in which the impeller 150 is rotated. Water discharged fromthe outer tub 6 to the water discharge bellows 18 may be supplied to theimpeller reception space through the supply port 142.

A water discharge outlet 143 a corresponding to the inlet of the drainport 143 and a circulation water outlet 144 a corresponding to the inletof the circulation water discharge port 144 may be formed on an insidesurface 147 (refer to FIG. 15) of a ring shape having a clearancebetween the pump housing 140 and the impeller 150. The inside surface147 forms the inner circumferential surface of the housing main body141. The water discharge outlet 143 a and the circulation water outlet144 a may be spaced apart from at a specific interval in acircumferential direction thereof on the inside surface 147. The waterdischarge outlet 143 a and the circulation water outlet 144 a may belocated in the range S between approximately 140 to 170 degrees aroundthe shaft of the impeller 150. In this case, the range S is an angleformed by one end 144 a 1 of the circulation water outlet 144 a and oneend 143 a 1 of the water discharge outlet 143 a around the shaft of theimpeller 150 as in FIG. 15. Furthermore, the other end 144 a 2 of thecirculation water outlet 144 a and the other end 143 a 2 of the waterdischarge outlet 143 a may form an acute angle around the shaft of theimpeller 150. An angle θp formed by the drain port 143 and thecirculation water discharge port 144 may be approximately 30 to 90degrees.

When the pump motor 170 is rotated forward, water may be supplied to thecirculation hose 90 through the circulation water discharge port 144.When the pump motor 170 is rotated backward, water may be supplied tothe drain hose 11 through the drain port 143. In order for waterdischarge and the circulation operation of water to be accuratelyperformed, when water is discharged through the circulation waterdischarge port 144, it should not be discharged through the drain port143 needs to be prevented. In contrast, when water is discharged throughthe drain port 143, it should not be prevented through the circulationwater discharge port 144. To this end, when the impeller 150 is rotatedforward, the circulation water outlet 144 a is formed at a locationhigher than the water discharge outlet 143 a on the upstream side of awater current. Accordingly, the water discharge outlet 143 a Is locatedon the downstream side of a water current with respect to thecirculation water outlet 144 a.

The circulation water discharge port 144 and the drain port 143 areextended from the circulation water outlet 144 a and the water dischargeoutlet 143 a, respectively, to the outward direction of the housing mainbody 141, but the circulation water discharge port 144 is extendedforward or a direction inclined toward the downstream side with respectto the forward direction and the drain port 143 is extended backward ora direction inclined toward the upstream side with respect to theforward direction. As shown in FIG. 14B, when the pump 100 is viewedfrom the side or along the shaft of the impeller 150, the center of thecirculation water outlet 144 a and the center of the water dischargeoutlet 143 a may be spaced apart from each other at a specific interval“d” in the axial direction of the pump motor 170.

When the pump motor 170 is rotated forward, a water discharge preventionrib 146 for preventing water in the pump housing 140 from beingdischarged to the drain hose 11 through the water discharge outlet 143 amay be protruded from the inside surface 147 of the pump housing 140.When the pump motor 170 is rotated backward, a circulation waterdischarge prevention rib 148 for preventing water in the pump housing140 from being discharged to the circulation hose 90 through thecirculation water outlet 144 a may be protruded from the inside surface147 of the pump housing 140.

FIG. 16 shows that the upstream side Up(CW) and downstream side Dn(CW)of the circulation water outlet 144 a have been defined based on a watercurrent when the pump motor 170 is rotated forward and the upstream sideUp(CCW) and downstream side Dn(CCW) of the water discharge outlet 143 ahave been defined based on a water current when the pump motor 170 isrotated backward. In accordance with such a definition, in FIG. 15, thewater discharge prevention rib 146 may be formed to be adjacent to thewater discharge outlet 143 a on the downstream side Dn(CCW), and thecirculation water discharge prevention rib 148 may be formed to beadjacent to the circulation water outlet 144 a on the downstream sideDn(CW).

The water discharge prevention rib 146 may be formed at the corner ofthe water discharge outlet 143 a, and the circulation water dischargeprevention rib 148 may be formed at the corner of the circulation wateroutlet 144 a. The water discharge prevention rib 146 and the circulationwater discharge prevention rib 148 are formed within an interval betweenthe impeller 150 and the inside surface 147 of the pump housing 140. Theend of each of the ribs 146 and 148 maintains a specific interval fromthe vane 151 of the impeller 150.

At least one of the water discharge prevention rib 146 and thecirculation water discharge prevention rib 148 may be protruded in alength of approximately 3 to 6 mm from the inside surface 147 of thepump housing 140. Accordingly, the interval between the impeller 150 andthe inside surface 147 may be greater than the protruded length. Atleast one of the water discharge prevention rib 146 and the circulationwater discharge prevention rib 148 may form an acute angle along withthe inside surface 147. In particular, an angle θr formed by the waterdischarge prevention rib 146 and the circulation water dischargeprevention rib 148 may be 5 to 85 degrees. The water dischargeprevention rib 146 and the circulation water discharge prevention rib148 may be vertically protruded from the inside surface 147 and an angleformed by both the ribs 146 and 148 may be 40 degrees. If both the ribs146 and 148 and the inside surface 147 form an oblique angle and anangle formed by both the ribs 146 and 148 is 80 degrees as shown in FIG.15, the amount of water that leaks to the circulation water dischargeport 144/drain port 143 upon water discharge/circulation may be reduced.

The motor casing 130 may be coupled to the pump housing 140. The pumphousing 140 has an opening part formed on the side opposite the side ofthe supply port 142, and the motor casing 130 is coupled to the pumphousing 140. Accordingly, the opening part can be shielded. Aring-shaped sealer 129 may be interposed along the coupling part of themotor casing 130 and the pump housing 140.

The motor casing 130 may include a casing body 110 and a rear cover 220.A motor housing 225 in which the pump motor 170 is received may beprovided on the inside of the casing body 110. The motor casing 130 mayhave a cylindrical shape backward extended from a front part 226 throughwhich the shaft of the motor 170 passes. The open rear end part of themotor housing 225 may be coupled to the rear cover 220. The front partof the motor housing 225 may be open so that the pump motor 170 isinserted into the motor housing 225. The open portion of the motorhousing 225 may be coupled to the front part 226 of the casing body 110.

One or more heat dissipation hole 221 h may be formed in the rear cover220. A shield plate 221 for blocking dropping water from entering theheat dissipation hole 221 h may be formed above the heat dissipationhole 221 h. The shield plate 221 may be inclined downward. Furthermore,a power connector 224 for connecting the pump motor 170 and a power linemay be formed in the rear cover 220.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the pump 100 may be coupled to the base 8by a pump supporter 50. The pump supporter 50 may include a plate 510made of metal, plate support dampers 520 installed on the plate 510, andpump support dampers 530 provided in the plate 510 and configured tosupport legs 145 formed in the pump 100. Three plate support dampers 520may be provided in a triangular structure. The plate support dampers 520and/or the pump support dampers 530 may be made of an elastic materialsuch as rubber. Accordingly, vibration caused when the pump 100 isdriven can be absorbed by the dampers 520 and 530.

The plate 510 may include a horizontal flat part 511, a plate supportdamper mount 515 upward extended from the flat part 511, and a pumpsupport damper mount 519 downward extended from the flat part 511. Theplate support damper mount 515 may include an upper vertical unit 512upward curved from the flat part 511 and an upper horizontal unit 513horizontally curved from the upper vertical unit 512 to the outside ofthe flat part 511 and configured to have a hole in which the platesupport dampers 520 is provided formed in. The plate support damper 520has its lower part coupled to the base 8 in the state in which they havebeen fixed on the upper horizontal unit 513.

The pump support damper mount 519 may include a lower vertical part 516downward curved from the flat part 511 and a lower horizontal part 517horizontally curved from the lower vertical part 516 to the outside ofthe flat part 511 and configured to have a hole in which the pumpsupport damper 530 is provided formed therein. The pump 100 may includethe pair of legs 145 downward protruded from the pump housing 140. Thepump support dampers 530 have their upper parts coupled to the legs 145of the pump 100 in the state in which they have been fixed on the lowerhorizontal part 517.

FIG. 20 shows a pump 100 a according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Hereinafter, same reference numerals may be assignedto the same elements as those of the aforementioned embodiment, and adescription of the elements may be omitted. Referring to FIG. 20, thepump 100 a may include a check valve 160 rotatably connected to theinside surface 147 of the pump housing 140 and configured to shut thewater discharge outlet 143 a when the pump motor 170 is rotated forwardand to shut the circulation water outlet 144 a when the pump motor 170is rotated backward.

The check valve 160 is driven by a water current formed by the impeller150. The check valve 160 may have its shaft, connected to the insidesurface 147 of the pump housing 140, formed substantially parallel tothe shaft of the impeller 160. The shaft of the pump housing 140 may belocated between the circulation water outlet 144 a and the waterdischarge outlet 143 a. Accordingly, the rotation direction of theimpeller 160 becomes opposite that of the check valve 160. When theimpeller 160 is rotated forward, the water discharge outlet 143 a islocated on the downstream side of a water current compared to thecirculation water outlet 143 a. Accordingly, when the impeller 160 isrotated forward, the water discharge outlet 143 a maintains a shuttingstate by the check valve 160. In this state, when the rotation directionof the impeller 160 is reversed, the check valve 160 is rotated forward,the water discharge outlet 143 a is open, and the circulation wateroutlet 144 a is open.

The check valve 160 may be made of a soft material such as rubber havingsome elasticity. A surface that belongs to the check valve 160 and thatcomes into contact with the inside surface 147 of the pump housing 140may be formed flat. Furthermore, the peripheral portions of thecirculation water outlet 144 a and the water discharge outlet 143 a,which come into contact with the check valve 160, in the inside surface147 of the pump housing 140 may be formed flat. Unwanted leakage fromthe pump 100 a can be prevented because the check valve 160 shuts thewater discharge outlet 143 a or the circulation water outlet 143 a inresponse to the rotation direction of the pump motor 170.

FIG. 21A shows a pump 100 b according to yet another embodiment.Hereinafter, the same reference numerals may be assigned to the sameelements as those of the aforementioned embodiments, and a descriptionof the elements may be omitted. The pump 100 b includes a pump motor ofa biaxial motor. Impellers 150 a and 150 b may be coupled to both shaftsof the biaxial motor. The biaxial motor is a two-shaft motor. The shaftsare aligned on the same line and rotated by a common rotator. The pump100 b may include the first pump housing 140 a and the second pumphousing 140 b for receiving the first impeller 150 a and the secondimpeller 150 b, respectively. The first pump housing 140 a and thesecond pump housing 140 b may be coupled to both sides of the pumpcasing 130.

Supply ports 142 a and 142 b may be formed in at least one of the firstpump housing 140 a and the second pump housing 140 b. In an embodiment,the first supply port 142 a and the second supply port 142 b have beenillustrated as being formed in the first pump housing 140 a and thesecond pump housing 140 b, respectively, and thus water supplied throughthe water discharge bellows 18 is supplied to the first supply port 142and the second supply port 142 b. However, the present embodiment is notlimited to such a configuration. For example, the first pump housing 140a and the second pump housing 140 b may be configured to communicatewith each other so that water can be supplied to both the pump housings140 a and 140 b through a single supply port.

The circulation water discharge port 144 may be formed in the first pumphousing 140 a, and the drain port 143 may be formed in the second pumphousing 140 b. The present embodiment has substantially the sameconfiguration as the previous embodiment except that the circulationwater discharge port 144 and the drain port 143 are not formed in asingle common pump housing, but are formed in the first pump housing 140a and the second pump housing 140 b. The drain port 143 is not formed inthe first pump housing 140 a, and the circulation water discharge port144 is not formed in the second pump housing 140 b.

When the pump motor is rotated forward, water forcibly sent by the firstimpeller 150 a is discharged through the circulation water dischargeport 144. On the contrary, when the pump motor is rotated backward,water forcibly sent by the second impeller 150 b may be dischargedthrough the drain port 143.

Referring to FIGS. 22A to 24, the circulation hose 90 may be provided inthe cabinet 1. The circulation hose 90 may be provided near the insidecorner of the cabinet 1. The circulation hose 90 may be provided near aninside corner that belongs to the inside corners of the cabinet 1 andthat is located at the back. The circulation hose 90 may include anupward extension part 91 that is upward extended. Water pumped by thepump 100 flows from the bottom to the top of the upward extension part91. In the present embodiment, the upward extension part 91 is upwardextended up to the lower side of the hanger bracket 88 fixed to theinside of an corner formed by the side part 1 c and the backside unit 1d (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3).

The upward extension part 91 may be located near the corner of thecabinet 1. The pump 100 may be provided on one side under the cabinet 1.In this case, the upward extension part 91 may be provided near aninside corner that belongs to the inside corners of the cabinet 1 andthat is located at the back on the one side. Alternatively, the upwardextension part 91 may be provided on the same side as the circulationnozzle 12 based on the dispenser 17. The circulation hose 90 may includea pump connection part 92 for connecting the pump 100 and the bottom ofthe upward extension part 91 and a nozzle connection part 94 forconnecting the top of the upward extension part 91 and the circulationnozzle 12.

The shape of the pump connection part 92 may be described below based ona flow direction of water. The pump connection part 92 may be formed sothat it is backward extended from the pump 100, roundly curved andhorizontally extended in any one of both lateral directions, upwardroundly curved, and connected to the bottom of the upward extension part91. The lateral direction refers to the direction toward any one of thetwo side parts 1 b and 1 c. In particular, a portion that belongs to thepump connection part 92 and that is backward extended from the pump 100may be upward inclined.

The pump connection part 92 may be formed in such a way as to bebackward extended from the pump 100 so that it forms an upwardinclination, roundly curved in the direction of an inside corner thatbelongs to the inside corners of the cabinet 1 and that is close to thepump connection part 92, substantially horizontally extended, upwardcurved roundly, and then connected to the bottom of the upward extensionpart 91. In an embodiment in which the upward extension part 91 isprovided in any one of the inside corners of the cabinet 1, the pumpconnection part 92 may be formed in such a way as to be backwardextended from the pump 100 so that it forms an upward inclination,roundly curved in the direction of an inside corner in which the upwardextension part 91 is provided, horizontally extended, upward roundlycurved, and then connected to the bottom of the curved the upwardextension part 91.

The shape of the nozzle connection part 94 may be described below basedon a flow direction of water. The nozzle connection part 94 may beformed in such a way as to be roundly curved from the top of the upwardextension part 91 in the other one of both directions, horizontallyextended, upward extended and roundly curved, forward rounded andcurved, and then connected to the circulation nozzle 12. The other oneof both directions refers to the remaining one direction different fromthe direction in which the pump connection part 92 is curved.

The nozzle connection part 94 may be formed in such a way as to beroundly curved from the top of the upward extension part 91 in thedirection opposite the direction of an inside corner that belongs to theinside corners of the cabinet 1 and that is close to the nozzleconnection part 94, horizontally extended, upward extended and roundlycurved, forward rounded and curved, and then connected to thecirculation nozzle 12. In an embodiment in which the upward extensionpart 91 is provided in any one of the inside corners of the cabinet 1,the upward extension part 91 may be formed in such a way as to beroundly curved in the direction opposite the direction of the insidecorner in which the upward extension part 91 is provided, horizontallyextended, upward extended and roundly curved, forward rounded andcurved, and then connected to the circulation nozzle 12.

The characteristics of the circulation hose 90 may be described belowbased on a provided relation between surrounding elements. Thecirculation hose 90 may include a first curved part 93 which isconnected to the circulation water discharge port 144, at least oneroundly curved from the protrusion direction of the circulation waterdischarge port 144 to the direction of the corner in which the upwardextension part 91 is provided, and at least one roundly curved upwardfrom the direction of the corner so that it is connected to the bottomof the upward extension part 91.

The circulation hose 90 may include a second curved part 95 which isconnected to the top of the upward extension part 91 and at least oneroundly curved in the direction that becomes close to the circulationnozzle 12. The second curved part 95 is roundly curved in the horizontaldirection along the inside surface of any one of the front part 1 a, thetwo side parts 1 b and 1 c, and the backside unit 1 d, and is extendedto become closer to the circulation nozzle 12. In the presentembodiment, the second curved part 95 is roundly curved from the hangerbracket 88 along the backside unit 1 d in the horizontal direction andthen extended up to a portion adjacent to the backside unit 1 d at theback of the circulation nozzle 12.

The circulation hose 90 may include a third curved part 97 which is atleast one roundly curved upward from the downstream side of the secondcurved part 95, extended up to the height of the circulation nozzle 12,and then at least one roundly curved in the direction of the circulationnozzle 12 so that it is connected to the circulation nozzle 12. Theentire circulation hose 90 may be made of the same material or both endparts 90 a and 90 c and a section 90 b between the two end parts may bemade of different materials. In an embodiment, the entire circulationhose 90 may be made of a rubber material, such as ethylenepropylene(EPDM).

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a circulation hose according to anotherembodiment. Referring to FIG. 25, the circulation hose may include firstand second end parts 90 a and 90 c and a section 90 b between the firstend part 90 a and the second end part 90 c. The first and the second endparts 90 a and 90 c may be made of a soft material. The section 90 b maybe made of a material harder than that of the first and the second endparts 90 a and 90 c.

The first end part 90 a and/or the second end part 90 c may be made of arubber material. The section 90 b may be made of a material harder thanthe rubber material, for example, polypropylene (PP). The section 90 bis made of a hard material as described above. Accordingly, althoughwater fluctuates through the circulation hose 90′ when the pump 100operates, the section 90 b is not easily deformed and maintains itslocation. As a result, a possibility that the section 90 b may come intocontact with the inside surface of the cabinet 1 or the outer tub 6 ispoor.

The first end part 90 a and the second end part 90 c coupled to the pump100 and the circulation nozzle 12, respectively, are made of a softmaterial. Accordingly, the vibration of the pump 100 or vibrationdelivered in a spray process through the circulation nozzle 12 can beless delivered to the section 90 b. The hose part of the circulationhose 90 made of the EPDM material may have a pipe or hose thickness of 3mm, an inside diameter of 18 mm, and an outside diameter of 24 mm. Thehose part of the circulation hose 90 made of the PP material has a pipeor hose thickness of 2.5 mm, an inside diameter of 20 mm, and an outsidediameter of 25 mm. The circulation hose 90 may be attached to the outertub 6. If the outer tub 6 and the circulation hose 90 are stronglycoupled, a danger that a connection between the outer tub 6 and thecirculation hose 90 may be broken can be reduced.

In a first embodiment, the upward extension part 91 may be provided tobe upward extended while coming into contact with the outer tub 6, andmay include a fixing part for fixing the upward extension part 91 andthe outer tub 6 to a specific location of the outer tub 6. Furthermore,the pump connection part 92 or the first curved part 93 may be attachedto the outer tub 6. A fixing part for fixing the pump connection part 92or the first curved part 93 and the outer tub 6 may be provided.Furthermore, the nozzle connection part 94, the second curved part 95 orthe third curved part 97 may be attached to the outer tub 6. A fixingpart for fixing the nozzle connection part 94, the second curved part 95or the third curved part 97 and the outer tub 6 may be provided.

In a second embodiment, the circulation hose 90 may be provided to bespaced apart from the outer tub 6. When the inner tub 5 is rotated, theouter tub 6 is vibrated, and a surface of the vibrated outer tub 6 doesnot come into contact with a surface of the circulation hose 90.Accordingly, a danger that the circulation hose 90 may be broken can bereduced, and noise attributable to a touch can be reduced.

In the second embodiment, the washing machine may include a first fixingpart 71 spaced apart from the top of the base 9 upward at an interval of280 mm and provided on the inside surface of the backside unit 1 d. Thefirst fixing part 71 may fix the upward extension part 91 to thebackside unit 1 d or the side parts 1 b and 1 c. The washing machine mayinclude a second fixing part 72 spaced apart from the first fixing part71 upward at an interval of 260 mm and provided on the inside surface ofthe backside unit 1 d. The second fixing part 72 may fix the upwardextension part 91 to the backside unit 1 d or the side parts 1 b and 1c. Accordingly, a load of the upward extension part 91 can be equallydistributed, and the upward extension part 91 is fixed to the cabinet 1.In the present description, 280 mm and 260 mm are meant to include atolerance permitted to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

In the second embodiment, the washing machine may include a third fixingpart 73 provided on the inside surface of the top cover 2 a andconfigured to fix the circulation hose 90 to the top cover 2 a on thedownstream side of the third curved part 97. Accordingly, weight of thecirculation hose 90 is supported even on the upper side, and thecirculation hose 90 can be spaced apart from the upper side of the outertub 6.

The washing machine according to an embodiment may effectively dampenlaundry exposed to air within the inner tub because a spray angle of thecirculation nozzle may be changed. There may be an advantage in that awashing variation according to a laundry amount can be reduced because aspray angle of the circulation nozzle is changed based on a laundryamount during washing. The amount of water used for washing may bereduced and laundry may be uniformly dampened.

A change of color generated because laundry may be exposed to air or asecondary contamination attributable to the congealing of detergentdregs can be prevented because water can be supplied to laundry exposedto air using the circulation nozzle.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a washing machine may becapable of changing water pressure of water supplied to a circulationnozzle and capable of reducing a washing variation according to alaundry amount. The washing machine may be capable of controlling aspray angle of a circulation nozzle depending on a laundry amount. Thewashing machine may have both a circulation nozzle and a direct waternozzle.

A washing machine according to an embodiment may include a cabinet, anouter tub, an inner tub configured to receive laundry and provided inthe outer tub so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,a circulation nozzle to spray water into the inner tub, a circulationhose to guide water from the outer tub to the circulation nozzle, and apump including a pump motor having variable speeds and an impellerconfigured to move water from the circulation hose to the circulationnozzle as the impeller is rotated by the pump motor.

This application relates to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/283,488(Attorney Docket No. PBC-0584), Ser. No. 15/283,527 (Attorney Docket No.PBC-0586), Ser. No. 15/283,601 (Attorney Docket No. PBC-0588), Ser. No.15/283,662 (Attorney Docket No. PBC-0589), and Ser. No. 15/283,763(Attorney Docket No. PBC-0590), all filed on Oct. 3, 2016, which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Further, one ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that features disclosed inthese above-noted applications may be combined in any combination withfeatures disclosed herein.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine, comprising: a cabinet; anouter tub; an inner tub configured to receive laundry and provided inthe outer tub so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;a circulation nozzle to spray water into the inner tub; a circulationhose to guide water from the outer tub to the circulation nozzle; and apump including: a pump motor having variable speeds; and an impellerconfigured to move water from the circulation hose to the circulationnozzle as the impeller is rotated by the pump motor.
 2. The washingmachine of claim 1, further comprising: a water supply hose to guidewater supplied from an external water source; a water nozzle to spraythe water supplied from the water supply hose into the inner tub; a topcover coupled to a top of the cabinet and having an opening for laundry,wherein the circulation nozzle and the water nozzle are provided in thetop cover.
 3. The washing machine of claim 2, further comprising adrawer provided in the top cover, wherein the circulation nozzle and thewater nozzle are provided on different sides of the drawer.
 4. Thewashing machine of claim 3, wherein, when defining a predeterminedreference plane spanning in a front-rear direction and including arotational axis of the inner tub, the circulation nozzle is provided ina first side about the reference plane and sprays water toward a secondside opposite the first side, and the water nozzle is provided in thesecond side and sprays water toward the first side.
 5. The washingmachine of claim 4, further comprising a pulsator provided on a bottomof the inner tub, wherein the inner tub includes a cylindrical drum thatextends up from the bottom of the inner tub, and wherein, when the innertub is empty, a spray hole of the circulation nozzle is opened toward aregion defined from a first location, on a top surface of the pulsatorin the first side, to a second location, on an inner circumferentialsurface of the drum in the second side, and a spray hole of the waternozzle is opened toward a region defined from a third location, on thetop surface of the pulsator in the second side, to a fourth location, onthe inner circumferential surface of the drum in the first side.
 6. Thewashing machine of claim 1, further comprising: a water supply hose toguide water supplied from an external water source; a dispenser tosupply the water guided through the water supply hose to the inner tubwith a detergent; a water supply valve to open or close the water supplyhose; an operation control module to control the water supply valve andthe pump motor; and a laundry amount determination module configured todetermine an amount of laundry within the inner tub, wherein theoperation control module controls the water supply valve to supply waterinto the inner tub and controls a rotation speed of the pump motor basedon the amount of laundry determined by the laundry amount determinationmodule.
 7. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the operation controlmodule increases the rotation speed of the pump motor as the amount oflaundry determined increases.
 8. The washing machine of claim 7, furthercomprising a washing motor to rotate the inner tub, wherein theoperation control module controls the washing motor to rotatecontinuously in one direction as the pump motor is rotated.
 9. Thewashing machine of claim 8, wherein the washing motor includes abrushless direct current (BLDC) motor.
 10. The washing machine of claim1, wherein: the circulation nozzle includes a water supply pipe to guidethe water supplied from the circulation hose and a diffuser thatrefracts the water introduced from the water supply pipe in a downwarddirection to spray the water into the inner tub, and the diffuserincludes an inclined surface on which water, flowing from an outlet ofthe water supply pipe, hits and is downwardly refracted.
 11. The washingmachine of claim 1, further comprising a controller to control arotation speed of the pump motor so that a spray height of thecirculation nozzle is changed.
 12. The washing machine of claim 11,wherein a spray width of the circulation nozzle is changed in responseto the rotation speed of the pump motor.
 13. The washing machine ofclaim 1, further comprising: a laundry amount determination module todetect an amount of laundry in the inner tub; and an operation controlmodule to control a rotation speed of the pump motor based on an amountof laundry detected by the laundry amount determination module.
 14. Thewashing machine of claim 1, wherein: the pump motor is configured torotate reversibly, and the pump includes a circulation water dischargeport to supply water pumped by the impeller to the circulation nozzlewhen the pump motor rotates in a forward direction and a drain port todischarge water pumped by the impeller to a drain hose when the pumpmotor rotates in a backward direction.
 15. A washing machine,comprising: a cabinet defining a space therein; an outer tub providingwithin the cabinet; an inner tub to receive laundry, the inner tubprovided in the outer tub and configured to rotate about a substantiallyvertical axis; a circulation nozzle to spray water into the inner tuband to change a spray height in response to a water pressure of watersupplied; a base provided under the outer tub and configured to supportthe cabinet; a pump provided on the base and having a pump motor withvariable speeds; and an impeller rotated by the pump motor to pumpwater; a circulation hose to guide water pumped by the pump into thecirculation nozzle; and a controller to control a rotation speed of thepump motor.
 16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the controllerincludes: a laundry amount determination module to detect an amount oflaundry in the inner tub; and an operation control module to control therotation speed of the pump motor based on an amount of laundry detectedby the laundry amount determination module.
 17. The washing machine ofclaim 15, further comprising a pump support to fix the pump to the base,the pump support including: a plate made of a metal material; a platesupport damper made of an elastic material, installed on the plate, andhaving a lower section coupled to the base; and a pump support dampermade of an elastic material, provided on the plate, and configured tosupport the pump.
 18. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the pumpsupport includes three plate support dampers that form a triangle alongsides of the plate.
 19. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein: theplate has a flat horizontal section, a plate support damper mount thatextends upward from the flat section, and a pump support damper mountthat extends downward from the flat section; and the plate supportdamper mount includes an upper vertical section that is curved upwardfrom the flat section and an upper horizontal section that is curved asthe upper horizontal section extends horizontally from the uppervertical section towards an outer edge of the plate, the upperhorizontal section of the plate support damper mount having a hole inwhich the plate support damper is provided.
 20. The washing machine ofclaim 19, wherein the pump support damper mount includes: a lowervertical section that is curved downward from the flat section of theplate; and a lower horizontal section that is curved as the lowerhorizontal section extends from the lower vertical section towards theouter edge of the plate, the lower horizontal section of the pumpsupport damper mount having a hole in which the pump support damper isprovided.